National Republican., 1887-01-12
Nebraska senntorship.

EDIToR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: In looking
over the list of those over whose shoulders
the great and growing state Of Nebraska may
possibly throw her senatorial toga we find hut
n limited number and In view of the narrow
ness of the Republican majority in the next
Senate and the unmltgatcd Democratic devil
try attempted at indianapolis the situation Mt
Lincoln, Neb., assumes a gravity which Is
almost startling in Its intensity. IL MIR. Van
Wyck should become his own successor we,
who have watched his career with that close.
ness which is born Of actual political contact,
believe that the Republican party has not one
shred to tie to, and dhisre.elcction would merely
increase for the future those opportunities for
unholy dicker with the Democrats of which he
has made such profitable and unsofnpulous
use In the past. Mr.. Valentine, should he once
more come to the front, would give us reason.
able confidence and security; with Mr.. Weaver.
who now represents the first district OF Ne.
braska, many Republicans would feel their
party safe. There remains, however. one posi-.
bic candidate in whose honest and stalwart
hands the interests Of the state of Nebraska,
and Of true Republicanism in the Senate,
would be supremely safe
We do not know whether Mr.. James Laird,
who represents the second district, intends to
become a candidate for the Senate, but In that
august body he would be yefitable tower OF
strength in this time of trouble. Few men OF
his youth have made so straight and strong
record In political life as he has done, an
fewer still have given us fair a promise OF what
his maturcr years will make II. lu him the
soldier and laboring elements of the p)pula.
ton have ever foundn devoted friend and ni-
daunted champion. He was no carpet knight,
no soldier of camps and guard mounts as was
the senator who now sccks to succeed himself;
nor did he, like the latter, confessedly draw
two salaries from the country whose uniform
he wore during lengthy perlod--the double
pay OF soldier and of legislator. Mr.. Laird's
conspicuous gallantry In battle and the wounds
IL brought him have both endcared him to his
comrades OF the war, for whose best interests
he has fought and struggled ever since: not
bis smallest effort in that direction being the
two bills which he introduced at the very com.
mencement of the present session OF
Congress, the first Of which seeks 70 re-
clnims for arrears before the bar of Limitation
became operative. but failed in the filing;
while the other designs to make the pensioners
celtifcaie itself magma charta Of his own and
bis family's RIGHTS, and also tomake the United
States pension office become not the sus.
watchful and kindly guardian of the nations
wards. Between the lamented Logan and Mr..
Laird the close observer will find In many
things parallel. In both soldiers we find the
same untlinching gallantry and stern deter
mination, as legislators we find In each the
love and labor for the dead or living comrade,
similar bluff and hearty manllness of speech
and action, and yet both were upon occasion
boldly independent, for while one stoutly on
posed the rehabilitation of Gen. Porter, the
other as strcnuously supported 1t, In speech
bill which was made In thnt prolonged and
acrimonious controversy. What the outcome
of the Nebraska balloting may be we cannot
now forecast; but II that state shall decide TO
send Mr. James Laird to the Senate we shall
feel that the honor of the state aud the Repub.
NEBRASKA
WASHINGTON, Jan, IL, 1857,